Press Conference 31 May 2005
- Visit by Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ichiro Aisawa to the Republic of Korea
- Japanese grant assistance to the Republic of Mozambique, the Independent State of Papua New Guinea and the World Health Organization (WHO)
- Cancellation of visit to Japan by Minister of External Trade Chantal Ngalula Mulumba of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Questions concerning upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and President Roh Moo Hyun of the Republic of Korea
- Questions concerning Japan-China consultations on the East China Sea
- Questions concerning proposed Asian Partnership Fund
- Questions concerning Chinese submarine accident
- Question concerning visit to Japan by President Traian Basescu of Romania
- Visit by Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ichiro Aisawa to the Republic of Korea
Press Secretary Hatsuhisa Takashima: Good afternoon and thank you very much for coming to the briefing. Before taking questions, I would like to make three announcements.
The first announcement is about the Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs's visit to the Republic of Korea (ROK).
Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Ichiro Aisawa is visiting the ROK from today, 31 May, to 3 June. During his stay in the ROK, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Aisawa will meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Ban Ki-Moon of the ROK to exchange views on various issues, including the forthcoming meeting between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and President Roh Moo Hyun of the ROK scheduled for the latter part of June.
In addition, Senior Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Aisawa will attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Trade to be held in Jeju Island in preparation for the 17th APEC Ministerial Meeting and the 13th APEC Economic Leaders Meeting in Pusan scheduled for November.
- Japanese grant assistance to the Republic of Mozambique, the Independent State of Papua New Guinea and the World Health Organization (WHO)
Mr. Takashima: The next announcement is about Japanese grant assistance.
The Government of Japan has decided to provide grant assistance to the following three countries.
First, a grant assistance of 2.16 billion yen or approximately US$20.0 million will be provided to the South African nation of the Republic of Mozambique to be used for improving one of the most important ports of the nation called port Beir. The improvement work will include dredging of the port in order to accommodate the large cargo ships using this port for international trade. It is expected that this assistance will help expand economic activities in Mozambique and neighboring countries, such as the Republic of Zimbabwe, the Republic of Malawi and the Republic of Zambia.
Secondly, a grant assistance of approximately 861 million yen or US$8.0 million will be provided to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea. This assistance is to be used for the renovation of the bridges on the Highlands Highway, which is the major road for economic activities in Papua New Guinea.
Thirdly, a grant assistance of 167 million yen or US$1.5 million will be extended to the World Health Organization (WHO) for the provision of medical service to immigrants from the Union of Myanmar currently living in the Kingdom of Thailand.
Related Information (Japan-Mozambique Relations) - Cancellation of visit to Japan by Minister of External Trade Chantal Ngalula Mulumba of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Mr. Takashima: The last announcement I have is about the cancellation of a visit of a dignitary.
Minister of External Trade Chantal Ngalula Mulumba of the Democratic Republic of the Congo has cancelled her visit to Japan that was originally planned for attending the National Day event at the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan scheduled for today at the Expo site. Instead, Ambassador of Congo to Japan Marcel Mulumba Tshidimba attended the ceremony representing his country.
Related Information (Japan-the Democratic Republic of the Congo Relations) - Questions concerning upcoming meeting between Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and President Roh Moo Hyun of the Republic of Korea
Q: On the first announcement about Prime Minister Koizumi's meeting with ROK President Roh Moo Hyun in the latter part of June, what will be the main items on the agenda at that meeting?
Mr. Takashima: The leaders of Japan and the ROK agreed to hold summit meetings twice a year, and the countries will take turn hosting the summit meeting. This time, the summit meeting will be held in the ROK. So basically, we are in agreement to hold this summit meeting between Prime Minister Koizumi and President Roh Moo Hyun in the latter part of June in the ROK. The exact venue and date have not been arranged yet. This is a kind of regular and consultative meeting to exchange their views. In view of the fact that relations between Japan and the ROK are one of the most important bilateral relations we have, we attach utmost importance to this meeting.
Q: Can you cite any specific items on the agenda?
Mr. Takashima: Certainly the bilateral issues will come up, in addition to international relations issues including North Korea. Other issues may include United Nations (UN) reform.
- Questions concerning Japan-China consultations on the East China Sea
Q: The Japan-China consultations on the East China Sea are being conducted since yesterday. Has any progress been made during the consultations?
Mr. Takashima: I have obtained a report which stated that the meeting has already been started, but there was no report on the details of the status of the meeting. Therefore, I cannot say if there is any progress or not. We will make a report after the meeting is finished.
Q: What does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs intend to accomplish during the consultations?
Mr. Takashima: The Government of Japan intends to find a way to diplomatically resolve the dispute or conflict between Japan and the People's Republic of China on the East China Sea issue, especially on China's on-going exploration of the gas field very close to the median line between the Japanese and Chinese exclusive economic zones (EEZ).
The Japanese Government's intention is to resolve this issue through diplomatic means, through dialogue, and we would like to make the East China Sea not a sea of conflict but a sea of cooperation and mutual benefit. Therefore, we would like to see that the consultations would lead the way for achieving this goal.
Q: Just one small detail on the discussions between Japan and China on the gas field. When is the scheduled completion day for that meeting?
Mr. Takashima: That will be today. The consultations are being held yesterday and today.
Q: Will any joint statement or announcement be issued from the consultations between Japanese and Chinese officials?
Mr. Takashima: I am not aware of it. Currently, there is no plan to issue any sort of joint statement.
Q: Will Director-General of the Asia and Pacific Affairs Bureau Kenichiro Sasae of the Foreign Ministry be returning to Tokyo soon after the conclusion of the meeting?
Mr. Takashima: The Japanese delegation headed by Director-General of the Asia and Pacific Affairs Bureau Sasae will be returning to Tokyo upon the conclusion of this consultative meeting, which is currently being held in Beijing.
- Questions concerning proposed Asian Partnership Fund
Q: There was a report in the Yomiuri Shimbun the other day, quoted by Agence France-Presse (AFP), saying that at the East Asia Summit in December, Prime Minister Koizumi will announce something tentatively called the Asian Partnership Fund. It quotes Foreign Ministry sources as saying that the Fund will assist small- and medium-sized businesses and the training of professionals from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in other words, countries that are pursuing free trade agreements (FTA) with Japan. It seems to be some sort of technical assistance as far as I can see. Is there in fact such a fund under discussion or consideration? If so, what would be its purpose?
Mr. Takashima: We have already expressed our strong desire to set up, specific policy plan to promote partnership in East Asia. The purpose of this policy plan is to help narrow the gap between low-income and wealthy nations in the East Asian area. Indeed, when you compare the size of the economy and the per capita gross domestic product (GDP) between rich and poor countries in this region, the size of the economy and per capita GDP of rich countries are 100 times or more those of poor countries. Such a wide gap does exist. Therefore, we would like to have a certain arrangement to promote the poverty eradication program, economic development program and empowerment program for human capabilities and so forth. This idea has already been put on the table to the East Asian nations by Prime Minister Koizumi, and we are currently discussing this issue. At this moment, the details have not been decided yet. It is still a matter of discussion right now.
Q: A discussion between Japan and?
Mr. Takashima: And other interested nations.
Q: It is not a truly bilateral thing, Japan plus other countries?
Mr. Takashima: That is also a subject to be negotiated.
Q: Japan does hope to announce something in December at the East Asia Summit?
Mr. Takashima: This will be one of the main agenda items of the East Asia Summit so far as we are concerned.
- Questions concerning Chinese submarine accident
Q: It has been reported that there was an accident involving a Chinese submarine in the South China Sea. Does the Foreign Ministry have any information regarding this accident?
Mr. Takashima: We are aware of the report of this Chinese submarine accident, but since it concerns a rather sensitive intelligence type of information, we would like to refrain from making any further comments at this point.
Q: When did this accident occur?
Mr. Takashima: It has been reported that it occurred quite recently, but I would rather refrain from making any comments. Reportedly, it occurred in the South China Sea.
- Question concerning visit to Japan by President Traian Basescu of Romania
Q: Will President Traian Basescu of Romania have any official meetings in Japan or will he only be attending the National Day event at the Expo?
Mr. Takashima: President Traian Basescu and his wife are visiting Japan from 31 May to 2 June as guests of the 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan to attend the Romanian National Day event. They are accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Razvan Ungureanu of Romania, among others.
On 2 June, President Basescu is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Koizumi. On the same day, President Basescu and his wife will also be received in audience by Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress of Japan.
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